My husband and I are considering moving from Montreal to PEI and have a couple of questions about the subject... stuff we couldn't get answers for in any visitor's guide! So if anyone can give us some feedback about the following and about life on the island in general, we would really appreciate it!

- What is it like in the winter? What is the downside of living in a place that has an "off season"?

- What are the nice neighborhoods in Charlottetown or Summerside to look for a house? What about other regions on the island? Where do the "locals" live and hang out?

- There doesn't seem to be any public transportation anywhere on island apart from Charlottetown. How does one get around without a car?

As a former Montrealer myself, I'll offer my viewpoint (for what it is worth)

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What is it like in the winter? What is the downside of living in a place that has an "off season"?

Winter here is pretty much like winter in Montreal, except when we get snow it almost always comes with winds, so even a 10cm snowfall can create havoc.

Not sure what you mean by "off season". If you mean tourism, my recollection is that Montreal doesn't have a great winter tourist trade ... the skiers head to the Laurentians or Townships If you mean economics, unless you are in a seasonal occupation, you won't notice much of a difference. But then Montreal has seasonal workers too, just maybe not as noticeable (i.e construction workers and even the service industries ... for instance, there is not the need for restaurant workers in the winter as there is in the summer)

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What are the nice neighborhoods in Charlottetown or Summerside to look for a house?

Depends upon what you are looking for in a house. Before I (or anyone else) answers that, we'll need a bit more of an idea of what you are looking for.

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What about other regions on the island?

see above

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Where do the "locals" live and hang out?

Pretty much from Tignish to Souris and all points in between. I guess I need to understand what you mean by "locals"?

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There doesn't seem to be any public transportation anywhere on island apart from Charlottetown. How does one get around without a car?

Let me ask you ... how do you get from Montreal to say, Rouyn-Noranda? Or to Chibougamou? Yes, PEI is small but it is still a province. I am unaware of any other province of Canada that has province-wide public transit. There is a bus line that offers twice daily service between Summerside and Charlottetown and points beyond. In fact you can board/debark that service in Borden, Kensington and Hunter River as well. Pretty much the same limitations on inter-urban service that one would have in Quebec or any other province. Sorry, I realize that may sound a little "snarky", but I think it was the best way to get across the point

By off season, I did mean between october and april. I've noticed when planning my upcoming trip that a lot of businesses are closed during that period (restaurants and shops) and was wondering how that affects the overall quality of life.

By locals, I did mean people who reside on the island year-round. I've been told that the Cavendish area for example was very "touristy". I guess I'm just wondering what other parts are not!

My husband and I are going to be in PEI from May 18 to 27 and one of our goals is to explore the island and visit different areas. Our plan would be to probably first buy a du/triplex (that we can rent out later) in Charlotteton or Summerside and have a waterfront house built later on.

As far as public transportation goes, I'm glad to see that there is some between the two major cities. I was asking because although we have a car, I personnally don't drive (my husband does). I do bike a lot though!

Just curious... what made you decide to make the move between QC & PEI?

By off season, I did mean between october and april. I've noticed when planning my upcoming trip that a lot of businesses are closed during that period (restaurants and shops) and was wondering how that affects the overall quality of life.

It is barely noticeable from my perspective ... the restaurants and shops that close in the winter generally pander to the tourists anyway and has little or no effect on the dining and shopping habits of "locals"

dmonette wrote:

By locals, I did mean people who reside on the island year-round. I've been told that the Cavendish area for example was very "touristy". I guess I'm just wondering what other parts are not!

Just about everywhere else

dmonette wrote:

My husband and I are going to be in PEI from May 18 to 27 and one of our goals is to explore the island and visit different areas. Our plan would be to probably first buy a du/triplex (that we can rent out later) in Charlotteton or Summerside and have a waterfront house built later on.

You'll find decent duplexes in various areas of Charlottetown and Summerside ... from the downtown core to the "burbs".

dmonette wrote:

As far as public transportation goes, I'm glad to see that there is some between the two major cities. I was asking because although we have a car, I personnally don't drive (my husband does). I do bike a lot though!

Well then, you'll love the Confederation Trail where you can bike the Island from tip to tip

The fact that you don't drive won't be a factor unless you live in the country. Summerside and Charlottetown - and to a lesser extent, places like Kensington, Montague or Souris all have the basics (malls, supermarkets, pharmacies, Tim Horton's ) within walking or biking distance or a short taxi ride. If you are out in the country, then you had better start studying for your licence (warning: drivers on PEI are among the worst in Canada ... worst because of any lack of consistency in their bad driving habits ... Montreal drivers may all be crazy, but they are consistent in their craziness )

dmonette wrote:

Just curious... what made you decide to make the move between QC & PEI?

A combination of Bill 101 eliminating jobs in my area of expertise in computers and the happy coincidence of the business that my great-grandfather founded in Summerside needing that expertise about the same time as I was seeing the writing on the wall about my future prospects in Montreal.

By off season, I did mean between october and april. I've noticed when planning my upcoming trip that a lot of businesses are closed during that period (restaurants and shops) and was wondering how that affects the overall quality of life.

It is barely noticeable from my perspective ... the restaurants and shops that close in the winter generally pander to the tourists anyway and has little or no effect on the dining and shopping habits of "locals"

dmonette wrote:

By locals, I did mean people who reside on the island year-round. I've been told that the Cavendish area for example was very "touristy". I guess I'm just wondering what other parts are not!

Just about everywhere else

dmonette wrote:

My husband and I are going to be in PEI from May 18 to 27 and one of our goals is to explore the island and visit different areas. Our plan would be to probably first buy a du/triplex (that we can rent out later) in Charlotteton or Summerside and have a waterfront house built later on.

You'll find decent duplexes in various areas of Charlottetown and Summerside ... from the downtown core to the "burbs".

dmonette wrote:

As far as public transportation goes, I'm glad to see that there is some between the two major cities. I was asking because although we have a car, I personnally don't drive (my husband does). I do bike a lot though!

Well then, you'll love the Confederation Trail where you can bike the Island from tip to tip

The fact that you don't drive won't be a factor unless you live in the country. Summerside and Charlottetown - and to a lesser extent, places like Kensington, Montague or Souris all have the basics (malls, supermarkets, pharmacies, Tim Horton's ) within walking or biking distance or a short taxi ride. If you are out in the country, then you had better start studying for your licence (warning: drivers on PEI are among the worst in Canada ... worst because of any lack of consistency in their bad driving habits ... Montreal drivers may all be crazy, but they are consistent in their craziness )

dmonette wrote:

Just curious... what made you decide to make the move between QC & PEI?

A combination of Bill 101 eliminating jobs in my area of expertise in computers and the happy coincidence of the business that my great-grandfather founded in Summerside needing that expertise about the same time as I was seeing the writing on the wall about my future prospects in Montreal.

You must have worked with someone I used to know pretty well, with the initials GG.

_________________"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." Lord Acton - Historian and moralist. 1834–1902

Hi there, I lived in P.E.I for a year, after moving there from Montreal. I had to return to Mtl. due to unforeseen circumstances, but I can tell you this, I long for the day when I can return to the island. P.E.I feels like home to me, the spectacular scenery, the warmth and generosity of the people, just the whole vibe of the island is wonderful. The political situation in Quebec is making life for certain parties more and more difficult here, it was an incredible experience for me, to live in P.E.I and feel like I belonged there, and not feel like a second-class citizen for a change. I yearn to return, hopefully within the next couple of years.-one last note about winters there, I'm a winter person, so I suppose I'm a little biased, but if you can see yourself getting into snow-shoeing, bird-watching and perhaps snowmobiling, winters there could offer a whole new set of hobbies

If you are looking for a comfortable pace of life, compared with the fast pace a city can be, you will love pei. I have lived here for 20 years now, having moved origionally from Ottawa and love it...mostly. I miss the fact that I can get twice the chinese food for 1/2 the price at my fav Ottawa spot, and Montreal Bagels (though I can now get them now at Sobeys...bonus ) The only other downside I see is medically. It takes some time to get a Doctor, and a while to get a specialist apt. Sometimes you have to go to Halifax to get treatments, like my grandson does, and that can cost you extra for the travelling. BUT IT IS WORTH IT. What I tell my friends, family and visitors I meet is : If you are slowing down to stop and someone is trying to get into the line, let them. Horns are used to say hi to someone... and occasionally beep once to remind the person ahead of you the light turned green (though be careful with that as green doesn't mean go, it means look both ways for the cars running the red, then go ) and don't expect everything to get done immediately. You move here for a quieter, slower pace of life, so expect that and RELAX.AM SURE YOU WILL LOVE PEI AS MUCH AS I DO

Thanks ewwfpirit for that. Sometimes we forget that it's a nice place really. We're a social bunch and the way we drive is a reflection of that. It's almost like our driving is a language of its own. For instance, the signal light is used as the answer to the question "Hi there! Where are you coming from?" and we politely turn on our signal after we turn to say "I came from thataway"!

_________________"Live by the sword, die by the sword". - Jesus of Nazareth, Matt. 26:52